IAH Commission on Transboundary Aquifers Questionnaire

Your views on Past & Future of Transboundary Aquifers:  Research, Management, and Policy Directions

In order to facilitate the discussion at a forthcoming workshop, we would be grateful to have your views on the points below.

Please reply by 15th July 2019.

A - Regarding the recognition of the topic of TBAs in the global ‘water agenda’
TBAs are very well recognised
TBAs are recognised by some ‘international water specialists’ – but disregarded at the national level
B - Regarding the progress achieved on understanding the ‘the physical and social science’ for evaluation of transboundary aquifers
Since 2000 (the launch of ISARM) – good progress has been made
There is not much difference in evaluating national vs transboundary aquifers
C - On the maturation and adoption of legal frameworks relating to TBAs by Member States of the UN
The UN International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on the Law of Transboundary Aquifer have made an important impact
The UN 1997 Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses adequately covers TBA’s.
The UN ECE 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes with Model Rules for TBAs is better suited for TBAs than either of the above
D - Have TBA Agreements negotiated between ‘aquifer system states’ taken full account of the relevant hydrogeology / socio economics
There is significant recognition of these factors
These factors have limited relevance to the preparation of Agreements
E - Considering the ‘global water agenda’ up to 2030, what specific efforts must national institutions make, so that their shared transboundary aquifer resources can be managed sustainably?
No specific effort is required – as they are included in ‘basin agreements’
Specific efforts are required, for the following reasons:
a. Transboundary aquifer management is very ‘complicated’
b. Institutions charged with groundwater regulation have insufficient capacity (human resources / technical resources, etc.)
c. Institutions operate in silos – specifically in relation to foreign policy, which determines the scale inter country collaboration over TBA’s
F - With regard to the future role of the IAH Commission on Transboundary Aquifers (2020 to 2030), please give your views on the following: